Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-23
.,NTs TO EMPLOYEES.
The Only Practical Way Of Learning the
Mysteries Of Any Business.

' AssO O"ssy AHoCssCoh WY OA A<cohoAmB SsAO
Mysteries Of Any Businesa
Possibly nothing we could publish
could he of a greater mutual benefit
than some thoughts for those employed
IN any way rs to their relations with
those who hire them. and their duties
not only to their employers. but to
themselves as Well. For an important
truth underlies the idea. often ex-
pressed. that every mans duty is first
to himself, and to those made dearer
than self by ties of nature and affec-
ton. The contract between employer
and employed can not bind the latter
to any act morally wrong, nor to do
what must result in moral or material
injury to himself.
Except for his services during the
time for which he has contracted them,
the hired help is, and ought to be indie
pendent But it is equally true that
having once contracted these services,
the employee owes it to himself even
more than to his employer that they be
given faithfully. Few realize as they
should the effect upon ones own self
of always trying to do the best he can.
Most of our employees are young men.
and the method of doing things
handily and without waste of eff
fort will, when learned. last
them all their lives. and be of greater
advantage than they can now UNDER
I % 81
masters in the country used to relate
as the beginning of his prosperity that
he worked for a'man, when young. who
had peculiar knack in husking corn.
by which he easily turned off nearly
twice as many bushels as any one else.
He taught this knack to his employees
as far as they could or would learn it.
Some were mulish about it, and com.
planned that their boss was trying to
get too much out of them, and that
if he got the usual days work at husk-
ing he had no right to complain. Our
informant, who was afterwards sue
cessful on his own account, thought
differently. He reasoned that the rapid
but careful motion which wasted no
effort was a good thing for any one
to learn who intended to practice here
after. The result was that he attained
a skill in doing work which stood him
in stead of quite considerable capi-
tai when he went into business on his
own account. His associates, who did
not wish to learn. preferring slower
and perhaps slightly easier methods.
became second-class help. soon grew
discouraged with their work. and never
tried to buy or own anything.
Much is usually said about the wrong
of eye service, as it affects the employ
err; but as these thoughts are especially
for hired help. it is better to look at
this subject from the purely selfish
standpoint which an employe. careful
only Of his own interests, might take.
If hired help try to do just as little as
possible. not only does this fact become
known, but it quickly forms habit
which can not easily be overcome.
The conditions of success anywhere
are push, enterprise and desire to do
all that is possible. Men who are ac-
customed to hold back. fearing they
will do too much for their employer,
learn slOwness and hardness so thor
Oughly that they can not drop these
habits even when they come to work
for themselves. To work heartily and
cheerfully for an employer is. we be-
lieve, equally important for both par
ties; but if there is any difference. it
should be of greater Importance to the
workman. whose habits for life are be-
ing formed, rather than for the en-
plOyer, who, at the close of a season. If
not before. may discharge the unfaith-
full employee and hire another in his
place.
To have and to feel this unity of in.
,erest in each other requires, a good un-
derstanding between the employer and
employed. No self-respecting hired man
will consent to work for any consider
able time for a rough. brutal or pro-
fame master. Such are always high
tempered. and apt to unduly exalt the
Importance of their position as en-
ployer. No man can do his best if
kept in a constant jangle of hot-tem-
pered discussion. The man who says
he does not care what sort of an en-
ployer he has. so long he gets his pay.
marks himself as only an Indifferent
sort of employe. The hired man ought
to care. He can earn more money for
. man with whom he is sure to be on
good terms, and it is his business 70
get as large a sum as he can for his
best service. If he can not work har-
moniously with his employer it is right
that either one should seek release from
the contract as soon as the fact is
learned. aud it will generally be best
for both that the relation be severed
before greater trouble ensues.
If employers took greater interest in
the character and thoughts of their
hired help, it would be much better for
both parties. Each can learn sCme-
thing from the other, and, in fact,
working for frst-class master is the